(Story and photos by Julie Carasone)
A little over a year ago 8480 Lovers Lane road was a wooded piece of land. Today, a brand new home sets on the cleared land with a beautiful country view.
On Saturday, Habitat for Humanity dedicated the new build to its first owner, Jamie Kendall.
According to Jaylene Smith-Kilner, Executive Director, they started to dig the foundation in October of 2017, and completed construction in May 2018. The land was dedicated to Habitat for Humanity by Holly Forden, a former resident of Batavia.
(Left to right-Lauren Casey, Jamie Kendall, and Jaylene Smith-Kilner)
“I am very excited and this is a happy time for me,” says Jamie Kendall.
“I got a letter in the mail about Habitat for Humanity and it sounded like a great idea and I went for it.”
In order for Jamie to become a homeowner, she had to put in “300 sweat equity hours” towards the building of her house.
“Not only did she help put in the hours, she put in additional hours at other homes,” says Lauren Casey, Chief Executive Officer at Habitat For Humanity.
“We believe at Habitat that our work has the ability to empower. Tradition has it that the homeowner has to put up a piece of siding on the house. The last piece of siding was at the highest part of the house. Jamie was no exception to this tradition. She slowly climbed the ladder and made it to the top and hung the last piece of siding,” said Casey.
Another tradition is the dedication ceremony and blessing, the homeowner receives gifts such as a basket from Irish Propane, fall bouquet with an engraved vase from Habitat of Humanity of Genesee County, a quilt from Resurrection Quilt Ministry and a blessing from senior Pastor Vern Saile of Northgate Church.
“Helping in the construction of the house were, PJ Riner, Construction Manager who is always dedicating his time, RIT Habitat Chapter, which spends a semester with us from end of August to May, GCC Students, different local organizations and businesses, and core volunteers, Dan Miller, Rich Cook, Mike Fahey, John Hoffarth, Steve Smith, and Wes Winters and many others,” says Smith-Kilner.
CY Farms allowed Habitat for Humanity to use their equipment to dig the foundation and perform other large tasks and the next-door neighbors also let Habitat use their electricity until the house was up and running. The organizations that are always there for Habitat include, Turnbull and RA Haitz, DelPlato and Casey Law and many other community members, groups, and businesses.
“For such a small community, we have many businesses that support our business,” said Casey.
Smith-Kilner says that they have a great partnership with Pathstone and MaryannNewmar, where applicants go through their home buyer education class, review their budget, credit history and are given a timeline to repair any credit issues and create a budget, which is shared with Habitat.
“This is a nice unique partnership with Pathstone and Habitat for the homeowner, so even if they decide not to go with the homeownership program through Habitat, its setting them on that pathway so that there are other avenues for homeownership,” says Smith-Kilner.
Smith-Kilner says they are always looking for new homeowners. You can look for information in regards to Habitat for Humanity at www.geneseehabitat.com, email is info@geneseehabitat.com, or call 585-345-1656.